The Eastern Ontario Regional Network and Rogers have wrapped up the $300 million EORN Cell Gap Project, bringing 5G coverage to communities, roadways, and First Nations across eastern Ontario. Federal, provincial, and municipal leaders met today in Rockland, Ontario to announce the final rollout.
The public-private partnership was paid for by a mix of government and private money. The federal government and Ontario each put in $71 million, and local municipalities added $10 million through the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus. Rogers covered the remaining $150 million to handle construction and upgrades after winning the competitive bid.
Rogers built 346 new wireless sites through new towers and colocations, and upgraded 311 existing sites with 5G hardware. The goal was to bring 99 per cent voice call coverage, 95 per cent standard definition data coverage, and 85 per cent high-definition coverage to roads.
“Thanks to the EORN Cell Gap network, 5G service is now available for more residents, businesses, Indigenous communities, and visitors across eastern Ontario,” said Giovanna Mingarelli, Member of Parliament for Prescott–Russell–Cumberland, in a statement. “The Government of Canada’s investment in this project has connected people to much more than 5G service – it also connects them to economic opportunities, to businesses, to the international community, and to each other.”
“The Cell Gap Project represents one of the most significant investments in rural wireless infrastructure in Ontario’s history,” said Jennifer Murphy, Chair of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network. “What began as a vision to close cellular coverage gaps across eastern Ontario is now a reality for the people who live, work, travel and do business here. This project is about more than towers and technology, it’s about improving public safety, supporting economic growth and ensuring our communities are better connected for generations to come.”
The upgraded network now reaches regional cities and counties like Kingston, Belleville, Cornwall, Peterborough, Renfrew, and Hastings, which now brings better cell connectivity to residents, businesses, and emergency services.
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Surprised Rogers finally got it done given the capital and employee cuts this year.